The Value of Old Mexican Bank Notes

You’re planning another visit to Mexico and, after rummaging through the drawers to find your passport, hey presto! …some notes appear with “Banco de Mexico” printed on them.  You glance at the value ($1000 pesos, $50,000 pesos, $100,000 pesos) and your mind goes into mathematical over-drive: so what is $100,000 divided by today’s peso exchange rate?

Mexico encountered two economic crises in recent decades: one in the early eighties and another in the mid-nineties.  Both events had different causes although each imposed the same penalty on Mexico’s peso: devaluation.

In the 1980’s Mexico’s currency was denominated not in ones and tens, but in hundreds and thousands.  $50,000 peso notes were commonplace, and in the early 90’s, the Bank of Mexico issued a $100,000 peso bank note.  At the time, these were worth about US$16.50 and US$33 respectively.

On January 1, 1993 Mexico re-based its currency, removing three zeroes from all denominations and launching the New Peso (Nuevo Peso).  A new series of bank notes appeared, looking exactly like the old ones, with two exceptions: the new ones had three zeros missing from the numerals and the words “Nuevos Pesos” were added.

In October 1994 a brand-new series of bank notes was released and the word “Nuevos” was dropped as Mexico’s currency stabilized and people got used to the new currency.

The Bank of Mexico honors all genuine notes it issues, regardless of their date of emission, at present-day values.  The present-day value is given on this page of the bank’s web site.

For example, a $1000 peso note dating back to the late 70’s/early 80’s is worth just 10 Mexican cents today; i.e. worthless.  A $100,000 peso note dating back to 1991 is exchangeable today for a $100 peso note with a value of around US$9.  Older notes (pre 1975) are worth fractions of a cent and are now no more than museum pieces and collector’s items.

Stores and retail banks won’t accept old bank notes; you need to take them to the Bank of Mexico.  Unless you have a lot of the more recent old-style bank notes, it may be best to just keep the ones you have as a souvenir.

Also See:

• Guide to Money in Mexico
• Currency Converter